Author: Liza Casabona

State Actions Reshaping Minimum Wage Debate

A wave of state minimum wage increases and proposed bills is reshaping efforts to raise the federal minimum wage. Dozens of states have taken up minimum wage bills over the last year, with five states — Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota and West Virginia — passing measures in the last few months. According to the National […]

What Are the Rules for Mixed-Motive Bias in California?

In early 2013, the California Court of Appeals ruled in favor of an employee in a so-called “mixed-motive” case (when an employer has both unlawful and legitimate reasons for taking an adverse employment action) brought under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

Employment Law Alert: San Francisco’s Ban the Box Ordinance

Effective August 13, 2014, San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant’s criminal history, including inquiries on an employment application form. This prohibition, often called a “ban the box” provision, applies to private employers, city contractors, and subcontractors with 20 or more employees. Covered employers may ask about an applicant’s criminal history after the first live interview (in person or via telephone or other technology) or after a conditional job offer. A notice describing the protections provided under the ordinance will be developed by the city’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE). Employers are required to post the notice and to send a copy to any labor union with which they have a collective bargaining agreement.

Need Videos for Your Supervisory Training?

A manager or supervisor who wants to terminate an employee should avoid taking hasty action. They should first determine whether there are any reasonable, less-drastic alternatives to firing the employee. But even if they’re sure termination is the best course of action, it’s generally better to let a group—including HR as well as other managers […]

Changes To California Mixed-Motive Rules

Yesterday, we looked at the case of a California employee, Lorena Alamo, who successfully established that her termination was due to improper “mixed motives” (the employer had both unlawful and legitimate reasons for the firing).

Increase HIPOs’ Risk and Reward, But Beware Discrimination

Yesterday’s Advisor offered tips for handling the difficult situation in which high potential (HIPO) employees low on the career ladder are antsy because Boomers won’t retire. Today, more tips, plus an introduction to the unique guide just for HR “Lone Rangers”—the one-person HR departments. Here are some more tips for managing HIPO employees: Increase risk […]

Development, Mentors, Opportunities, Risk, and Reward Keep HIPOs Engaged

Here are some more tips for managing HIPOs (high potentials): Increase risk and reward. This might mean giving more at-risk salary in the form of bigger bonuses or incentive pay for outstanding performance. Having more say over final take-home pay can allow HIPOs to feel more in charge of their career outcome, even if the […]

Training Programs—What’s Happening in the Real World?

Please participate in our brief survey and see how what you are doing for training stacks up against what other successful companies are doing. We’ll get answers to these questions and more: How often do your employees receive training? What kind of training is conducted? What specific topics is training offered on? What are the […]